If you decide to treat your feet at home, this simple pedicure will remove dead skin and give tired feet a new zest for life.
- Sock your feet in warm water. For a little bit of extra pep add some bicarbonate of soda or a few green tea bags.
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Use a salt- or sugar-based body scrub to remove any
surface dead skin. Tackle any severe dead skin with a pumice, foot file or electric sander (depending on how bad the problem is), gently removing any thickened, hard or cracked skin. - Trim your nails. This should be done with clippers only and you should only ever cut straight across. Shaping toenails can lead to ingrowing nails, which can be very painful. Now apply a rich foot cream containing urea to your feet and nails. If you pop on some socks, go to bed paint your nails in the morning. Alternatively, if you’re in a rush, after two to three minutes,rub over the nails with a flannel or the edge of a towel. This prepares your nails for painting, but will also help remove any excess cuticles.
- Paint the toenails. Toe separators will help you avoid polish smudging from one toe to the next. If you don’t want to buy toe separators, use tissuse pushed between the toes to keep them apart-this is better than cotton wool, which can shed fibres. Paint toenails as you do fingers, with two or three thin coats applied in long strokes. And, as always, don’t forget the base coat.
Pedicure Tips
If you think your feet are simply beyond help, indulge in a paraffin wax at a spa. This popular treatment involves painting your feet with warm wax and wrapping them up to help them absorb moisture. The end result is perfectly smooth,soft skin.